It’s been almost three years since Baldur’s Gate 3 launched to critical acclaim and accolades. Yet somehow, the companion discourse is still going strong — not quietly, either. The passionate arguments and counterpoints are made with the same fury as launch week.
Both new and veteran players are still actively on the pursuit of the absolute truth: who the best camp companion is in Baldur’s Gate 3. And there’s no need to look any further than to Reddit threads that put that energy front and center. One declaring Karlach as the obvious best companion is a perfect case study for this kind of fandom interaction. This Karlach-centric take isn’t exactly controversial on the surface. Karlach is widely adored, after all. But it’s the responses that quickly prove that “best” in Baldur’s Gate 3 is anything but settled.
All Romanceable Characters In Baldur’s Gate 3
There are a total of ten romance options in Baldur’s Gate 3, and each of them are unique companions that players can choose to get close to.
Karlach’s Case as the Best BG3 Companion Is Built on Pure Heart
The post above doesn’t overcomplicate things. For a now-deleted user, Baldur’s Gate 3’s barbarian wins because she’s simply good. Not in a mechanical sense, not in a narrative twist-heavy way, but she’s simply delightful to have around at camp. When contrasted with other BG3 camp companions, this take makes sense: Karlach is a genuinely good person in a world where most companions’ baggage has soured them.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)
As the post puts it, she’s “just a big kid inside a badass Tiefling body.” That sentiment shows up across replies, too. User eawardie notes that Karlach feels refreshing precisely because she doesn’t rely on a dark secret to stay interesting, calling her “a genuinely likable person” in a difficult situation. She is someone who wants hugs, dances when people might be watching, and delivers some of the most memorable lines in the game.
Why Players Love Baldur’s Gate 3’s Karlach
- Her good-aligned personality stands out when the narrative pushes the player into bleaker corners: BG3 is an open-world game with morally gray decisions, after all
- Her voice lines and delivery make her instantly memorable
- She brings warmth and levity to otherwise heavy story moments
Not All Baldur’s Gate 3 Fans Think Karlach Is the “Best”
Karlach’s romance in Baldur’s Gate 3 is a fan-favorite. Her joy is contagious. However, this wouldn’t be a Baldur’s Gate 3 discussion without push back. While Karlach’s personality is widely appreciated, several players argue that being likable isn’t the same as being the strongest companion overall.
User KatyaBelli points out the following: “Karlach is certainly likeable, but her plot is lower quality than the 4 big EA companions (Astarion, Lae’Zel, Shart, and Gale). Excellent voice acting though for sure.”
Similarly, Mercurionio highlights how much potential her story seemed to have in Act 3, only for it to feel cut short. In a definitive pushback against Karlach in the top spot, this user stated: “With extremely bad ending and very cutted quest line. Like, half of the act 3 points out for something to do with Her. Yet there is actually zero stuff to do (Gortash is a problem in any case).”
Where Critics Say Karlach Falls Short
- Her Act 3 content feels underdeveloped compared to other companions
- Her personal quest doesn’t evolve as deeply as others
- Karlach’s ending in Baldur’s Gate 3 has been widely criticized as unsatisfying
- Other companions have better emotional payoffs
Astarion, Lae’zel, and Others Keep the BG3 Best Character Debate Alive
Even in a Karlach-focused thread, it doesn’t take long for other companions to enter the conversation. That’s where things get interesting, because every counterargument reveals a different definition of what “best” actually means to every player.
User jmbutler1728 argues in favor of Astarion, pointing to his growth and transformation across the story, as well as the way his relationship with the player evolves. They state, “I love Karlach, but Astarion is my favorite for the amount of growth and transformation that his character goes through as well as the overall arc. The way he speaks to the Tav transforms throughout the journey in a distinct way. Plus I love a storyline that subverts my expectations in a good way.”
Meanwhile, MiserableProfessor16 breaks it down even further, separating “best” into categories like personality, narrative arc, and gameplay utility.
Other Fan-Favorite Picks
- Astarion: praised for character development and emotional range
- Lae’zel: often cited as having one of the strongest arcs in the game
- Wyll: acknowledged as the moral compass for the player to reference during a good playthrough of Baldur’s Gate 3
- Shadowheart: recognized for a deeply integrated and central storyline
- Gale: appreciated for his introspective, redemption-focused narrative
What starts as a simple Karlach appreciation post quickly becomes something bigger: a snapshot of how differently players connect with each companion.
These 4 Baldur’s Gate 3 Class Combos Are Worth Trying At Least Once
Even if you’re not into multiclassing in Baldur’s Gate 3, these 4 multiclass combos result in builds that can sway even the toughest fights.
Baldur’s Gate 3’s Companion Divide Is The Fandom’s Biggest Strength
Anyone in gaming spaces knows that discourse, while at times frustrating, is actually a good sign. In this case:
There isn’t a universally agreed-upon “best” companion because the game doesn’t funnel players toward a single answer. Instead, it gives each character enough personality, narrative weight, and mechanical value to resonate differently depending on the player. For some, that’s Karlach’s warmth. For others, it’s Lae’zel’s transformation. And for a subset of players, it’s the stories they’ve woven into their Tav or Durge’s origin.
I’ve Heard You
Some time ago, I wrote an article ranking the Baldur’s Gate 3 companions from best to worst. Obviously, I’m a gamer like the rest of you. I have my personal favorites with the think pieces and TikTok memes to prove it. But as a games journalist, I jotted down a list based solely on (somewhat) objective criteria in order to deliver a non-biased list to the best of my abilities. Some of you agreed. Some of you were convinced that I personally released the tadpoles onto Faerun and befriended Wulbren Bongle.
And yet, through the creative comments and shares, one thing stood out: everyone had a different opinion on who should win the number one spot. Players ardently defended the character they bonded with most, the one they romanced, or the immovable companion that made their playthrough whole.
And maybe that’s the point of all of this. The “best” companion in Baldur’s Gate 3 isn’t a fixed answer, but it’s a reflection of you — you, the player with biases, baggage, and things that make you tick. I’m glad that, after three years, these characters still make you tick, even if it’s to the point of yelling at someone online.
Baldur’s Gate 3
9/10
- Released
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August 3, 2023
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
